There are diseases whose symptoms worsen at night. Frozen shoulder, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are typical examples. We explore why symptoms worsen at night and how to alleviate them.

 

 

Frozen shoulder

 

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, causes severe shoulder pain due to sleeping positions at night. When standing, the arm hangs down, and the shoulder joint relaxes, resulting in relatively mild pain. However, when lying down to sleep, the arm and shoulder align horizontally, causing the joint to contract, and depending on the position, the weight of the arm is directly transmitted to the joint, intensifying the pain.

Sleeping on your side helps relieve pain. If you have frozen shoulder in your right shoulder, lie on your left side with a large cushion pressed against your chest, and drape your right arm over the cushion so that your arm naturally extends.

Asthma

 

More than 60% of asthma patients complain that their cough and shortness of breath are particularly severe at night. This is because, due to the circadian rhythm (the biological clock that repeats daily), the airway from the lungs to the nose narrows at night, and the secretion of steroids and adrenaline hormones that alleviate asthma symptoms and dilate the airways decreases, while histamine that constricts the airways is secreted vigorously. Additionally, as the temperature of bedding rises, dust mites and bacteria become more active, which is another reason for airway intrusion. Using inhalers and medications (such as steroids and bronchodilators) mainly in the morning and using a humidifier at night to prevent the air from becoming too dry can help alleviate symptoms.

 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

 

When lying down to sleep, I feel a sense of chest tightness and heaviness in my stomach. Lying down causes the esophagus to be positioned below the stomach, making it easier for stomach acid and food to flow back into the esophagus. When falling asleep, the relaxation of muscles throughout the body also causes the lower esophageal sphincter (which tightens the esophagus to prevent reflux) to loosen, contributing to the problem. Using cushions or mats to elevate the upper body by about 15 cm can help keep the esophagus above the stomach.

 

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I had a lot of trouble with shoulder pain last year..

Sleeping with a cushion helps.

 

Stretching to regularly extend your arms is essential.